Kinugawa Onsen, located about 50 minutes by train from Nikko, is a large onsen (hot spring) town with onsen ryokan and hotels lined along the Kinugawa Valley. Being discovered in the Edo period, it is a historical onsen where only monks and Daimyo (feudal lords) were allowed in. There aren’t as many restaurants in the Kinugawa Onsen area as there are in Nikko, however the restaurants there are much loved by the locals which we will introduce in this article.
Recommended Restaurants of Kinugawa Onsen 1: Stone Oven Baked Pizza and Italian Dishes of Trattoria Camino
At about 10 minutes on foot from Tobu Kinugawa Line Kinugawa Onsen Station, there is a restaurant located in a quiet residential area serving authentic Italian dishes. With its log house-style building, its high ceilings gives the shop a wide feeling. The restaurant takes great pride in its pizza baked in a kiln delivered directly from Italy. It is characterized by its fluffy texture. “Margarita” pizzas with cheese, basil and tomatoes, and “Bianca” pizzas with bacon and white sauce are 1,050 yen each, and on top of that, there are desert pizzas such as European pear pizzas and banana pizzas. Aside from pizza, there are a variety of menu items such as grilled rib eye steak with garlic sauce with Nasu Tonkotsu for 1,350 yen, and tomato and basil salad for 700 yen. Check out the limited menu using season ingredients written on a board in the restaurant.
Spot Information
- Spot name: Trattoria Camino (トラットリア・カミーノ)
- Street address: 1430-2 Kinugawaonsen Ohara Nikko, Tochigi 321-2522
- Access: About 10 minutes on foot from Tobu Kinugawa Onsen Station
- Business Hours: Lunch 11:30-~15:00 (14:30 last order), Dinner 17:30~22:00 (21:00 last order)
- Regular Holidays: Wednesdays
Recommended Restaurants of Kinugawa Onsen 2: Teuchi Nihachi Soba
Soba restaurant located near Fujiwara Sports Park along National Route 121, and about a 10-minute walk from Tobu Kinugawa Line Kinugawa Onsen Station.
Nihachi soba uses buckwheat flour and wheat flour at a ratio of 8 to 2, giving it a white appearance. The amount of powder that can be taken from a single grain of buckwheat is extremely low, and uses what is treated as the finest buckwheat flour known as "Gozen flour", which has a smooth and elegant taste. As for the menu, there are items such as Momiji set (1500 yen), Yazaru soba (600 yen), in a set with Tenzaru soba, Sashimi Yuba, etc. In addition, "Hanagasumi" at 250 yen is a store specialty that you definitely want to order. The Mizugashi made from soba water makes it slightly sweet, and you eat it with a pink-colored sakura-flavored sauce.
Spot Information
- Spot name: Teuchi Nihachi Soba (手打 二八そば)
- Street address: 521-2 Kinugawaonsen Ohara Nikko, Tochigi 321-2522
- Access: About 10 minutes on foot from Tobu Kinugawa Onsen Station
- Business Hours: 11:00～17:00
- Regular Holidays: Tuesdays
Recommended Restaurants of Kinugawa Onsen 3: Footbath Cafe “espo”
An roof-fitted open terrace foot bath cafe located about 15 minutes on foot from Tobu Kinugawa Onsen Station. It is located within Hotel Sunshine Kinugawa, and is available to guests free of charge, however visitors can also use the foot bath if they dine in the restaurant. There is a free rental service for towels. The interior of the store has a warm atmosphere due to usage of wooden material, and you can look at the 140-meter-long suspension bridge, "Kinu-Tateiwa-Otsuribashi Suspension Bridge", while enjoying the foot bath. Menu items include mellow beef stew for 1,500 yen, and Tochiotome Cremia (premium strawberry ice cream) for 650 yen.
Spot Information
- Spot name: Footbath Cafe “espo” (あし湯カフェ エスポ)
- Street address: 1437-1 Kinugawaonsen Ōhara Nikko, Tochigi 321-2522, inside Hotel Sunshine Kinugawa
- Access: About 15 minutes on foot from Tobu Kinugawa Onsen Station
- Business Hours: 10:00～19:00 (18:30 last order)
- Regular Holidays: None
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